Raiders hold on in Canberra

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The Canberra Raiders have just held on to defeat the Gold Coast Titans 28-24 in Canberra this afternoon, but Canberra coach David Furner will no doubt be concerned over another second half fade-out from his team.

The match was evenly balanced for the first 25 minutes with both teams trading good tries for a six all score line.

However the Raiders really clicked into gear in the final 15 minutes of the first half, their big forwards and exciting young backline punching holes all through the Titans defence. Tries to Thurling, Joel Thompson and Campese leading to a 22-6 halftime lead to the home team.

The Raiders looked set to go on with a big victory in the second half with Bronson Harrison slipping a nice ball to Daniel Vidot to give the raiders a 22 point lead with 35 minutes to play.

However, like in several other matches this year, the Raiders lost their way badly, their cause not helped when exciting young fullback Josh Dugan, who had turned in a sublime first half performance, limped off with a leg injury.

To their credit the Titans fought back well. Inspired by scheming performances from halves Scott Prince and Greg Bird it was the Titans who began to look the likely winners. Tries to Prince, Minichello and Laffranchi cut the Raiders lead to four. The match was anyone's until the last tackle of the match, the Titans asked plenty of questions in a frantic final set from deep in their own half but the Raiders clung on to win.

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Raiders go right on the attack after Campbell puts the kick off out on the full.
2 min: TRY Dugan shows why he is one of the most exciting prospects in the game steaming onto a ball from McCrone and bursting through four tacklers to plant the ball next to the posts.Canberra Raiders 6-0
4 min: The Raiders are looking fast and strong but Prince put the Titans on the attack with a beautiful 40/20.
4 min: The Raiders are looking fast and strong but Prince put the Titans on the attack with a beautiful 40/20.
6 min: TRY The Titans hit right back with Prince and Bird combining superbly to put Tomane over in the corner. Prince converts from the sideline.6 all
10 min: The game is being played at a frantic pace. The Raiders do well to repel repeat sets from the Titans.
13 min: Titans have a set in great position after Dugan and Vidot both attempt to catch a huge bomb.
16 min: The Titans go close after Bird releases Mead down the sideline, but a poor last tackle kick gives the Raiders posession back.
20 min: The Titans are really starting to dominate possession, Dugan spills the ball after making a half-break deep in his own half.
24 min: Raiders go on the attack after Tomane spills the ball deep in his own half.
25 min: TRY A clever dummy half ball from Buttriss finds Thurling who steams over from short range.Canberra Raiders 12-6
30 min: Raiders starting to look dangerous with more possession. They go on the attack after a poor pass from Friend deep in his own half.
32 min: Preston Campbell saves a try, stripping the ball from a rampaging Thurling as he dives for the line
34 min: TRY Thompson scores in the corner, powering through several dusty attempted tackles. Campese sprays the conversion wide.Canberra Raiders 16-6
37 min: TRY Sensational Raiders try, Buttriss sliced through with a dummy from deep in his own half and found Dugan, who then linked with Campese.Canberra Raiders 22-6
39 min: The Raiders go close again in the shadows of half-time but some scramble defence from Campbell saves the day.
40 min: Half Time in an entertaining game here at Canberra. The Titans looked promising early but the Raiders have really clicked into gear and are dominating, whilst the Titans defence seems to have gone missing badly.
41 min: Back underway in Canberra, the Titans facing an uphill battle to get back into the game
42 min: A pinpoint Campese 40/20 puts the Raiders onto the attack.
43 min: TRY A sensational offload from Bronson Harrison, despite being tackled by three Titans, allows Vidot to sneak over in the corner.Canberra Raiders 26-6
45 min: Campese and Friend engage in a bit of a stink after Campese takes offence to being hit after he puts a kick in.
49 min: Raiders go close again, David Mead doing well to hold up Monaghan after he leaps high to catch a Campese bomb.
50 min: Friend and Campese go at it again after Friend is penalised for a spear tackle on Dugan.
52 min: With Dugan struggling in backplay with an injury the Titans go close to scoring, Mead's leg hitting the touchline just before he grounds the ball.
53 min: Dugan has left the field with a leg injury, Monaghan has gone back to fullback for the Raiders.
55 min: Titans are looking better. Kevin Gordon is denied after a controversial call ruling the last pass in a smart backline movement forward.
58 min: TRY Titans have had the better of the last ten minutes, Bird and Prince combine smartly to put Minichello in.Canberra Raiders 26-12
60 min: PENALTY GOAL Canberra elect to settle things down with a penalty shot after Campese is tackled after hoisting a bomb.Canberra Raiders 28-12
65 min: TRY We are in for an exciting last 15 minutes after Prince sells a simple dummy and slices through to score. The Raiders now lead by 10.Canberra Raiders 28-18
68 min: Titans really have the momentum now and go on the attack after Picker spills the ball deep in his own half
69 min: A controversial call gives the ball back to the Raiders. Greg Bird ruled to have lost the ball but replays show he got it again before it hit the ground.
71 min: Titans get a repeat set after a clever grubber from Bird. Raiders just hanging on.
73 min: TRY Raiders are imploding, Laffranchi dives over from dummy half with a hand barely laid on him.Canberra Raiders 28-24
76 min: Travis Waddell does well to defuse a dangerous Scott Prince chip kick on halfway.
78 min: Raiders finally muscling up in defence with the Titans deep in their own half.
78 min:
79 min: Titans will have one more set from a 20 metre tap.
80 min: What a last set! fans of both teams must have been having heart palpitations. Raiders just hold on to win.